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In emergency situations, first-responder teams need to work quickly and effectively, often across borders and between diverse organisations. However, research has highlighted numerous obstacles to inter-agency coordination during crises: a lack of shared tools and technological interoperability, as well as varying organisational cultures, both between countries and between agencies in the same country. These obstacles affect the flow of information, waste time and hamper response efforts.
To improve preparedness, planning and joint-response capacity, the EU-funded IN-PREP project is establishing a state-of-the-art crisis-response programme for cross-border crises.
Transboundary crises present a particular threat to public safety and the functioning of infrastructure. They cross national borders and borders between areas of competence of different organisations and pose a specific set of complex challenges.
Countries need to develop shared response planning and exchange real-time information. It is vital to find a way for several countries and agencies to create a common picture of an emerging crisis based on multiple sources. They also need to coordinate deployment of resources to ensure rapid response and avoid waste.
The IN-PREP programme is aimed at all civil protection stakeholders, including fire brigades, medical services, police forces, civil protection units, control command centres and assessment experts. Its concrete results will include a transboundary preparedness handbook presenting case studies, lessons learned from past incidents, recommendations and checklists, to act as a guide for customising crisis plans and coordinating operations across agencies and borders.
Another element is the mixed reality preparedness platform. This is an IT-based tool combining systems for decision support, visualisation of assets and personnel, situational awareness and real-time information that will enhance interoperability of technology and help responders deploy resources effectively.
The IN-PREP tools and procedures are demonstrated during training sessions and exercises to ensure they are understood in different organisational cultures and countries. The training also helps standardise operations in transboundary situations and build capacity within the organisations concerned.